if they continue doing the right thing , they cannot be targeted maliciously and they won ’ t have to deplete any savings they might have recovered defending themselves .
Throughout all of our state and federal efforts for assistance , the people and businesses of our industry have become much closer . We are learning from each other , sharing best practices and looking out for each other , and we are stronger for it . Our members have monumentally increased their engagement in advocacy and speaking out because we have all spent the last year and a half fighting for our lives , our teams and our businesses . It feels like we have been through a war , and we keep fighting as brothers and sisters in arms to survive .
As Florida had the ability to open up earlier than most states under the leadership and direction of Governor Ron DeSantis , we were able to “ stop the bleeding ” economically for so many and proved that we could operate safely . Certainly , throughout the spring and summer this year with COVID variants increasing , we had to ensure that we were not getting lazy with our caution , but we still needed to move forward welcoming our guests with our incomparable hospitality as safely as possible .
The road ahead is filled with continually emerging trends – like the surge of ghost kitchens that focus on food delivery , combined concepts , workers conducting business remotely – perhaps at one of our beautiful hotel properties , and the continuation of alcohol to go and delivery . Take-out will remain a popular option for many who like the convenience of dining in their own homes . Targeted relief
for our industry is critical to prevent further economic collapse and job loss , which would be detrimental to families across Florida who work in our industry . The replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund is critical to support so many unfunded grantees in Florida who were eligible for relief , and vaccination will also play a key role in the stabilization and recovery for tourism and hospitality .
Florida ’ s tourism numbers continued to surge through the first and second quarters of 2021 , with record numbers in some regions of our state even compared to pre-COVID numbers . And while we still have a long way to go in terms of recovery as our industry has faced monumental shifts as we deal with continued labor shortages , which affect operating capacities , hours and quality of service , we are resilient . We are proud to fight each day with the wonderful men and women of the greatest industry in Florida – hospitality .
Carol B . Dover has served as President & CEO of the more than 10,000-member Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association ( FRLA ) for more than 26 years . Dover is a professional association manager , a lobbyist , a former government executive , and a Florida State University Dedman School of Hospitality graduate with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management . In addition , she serves on the board for both the National Restaurant Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Association .
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